Design And Implementation Of Integrated Software Suit For Academic Planning Unit
(A Case Study Of Imo State University Owerri)
An integrated software suite for academic planning units offers a comprehensive solution designed to streamline and enhance various aspects of academic management, including curriculum development, scheduling, resource allocation, student tracking, and assessment. This software suite optimizes efficiency and coordination by centralizing data and functionalities, allowing academic planners to seamlessly collaborate and make data-driven decisions. By incorporating features such as automated scheduling algorithms, real-time analytics, and customizable reporting tools, this software empowers institutions to optimize resource utilization, improve student outcomes, and adapt to evolving educational needs. Additionally, the integration of student information systems, learning management systems, and assessment tools ensures seamless data flow and facilitates continuous improvement processes. Overall, this integrated software suite serves as a dynamic tool for academic planning units to navigate the complexities of educational administration and foster continuous improvement in educational delivery.
The formulation of a good academic planning is only the first implementation putting the academic program plan into action. this requires that goals and objective are developed
As part of the plan .the duties of the academic planning unit include:-
i. To provide institutional planning for academic programs.
ii. To provide a regular report to faculty council
In order to complete this project an investigation of the academic planning unit was carried out with the aim of identifying the predominant problems in the academic planning unit .this investigation revealed many discrepancies within the system.
The activities of the academic planning unit departments are manually based. This leads to inefficiency, poor reponse time, poor planning and execution of major activities and low productivity .as a result , an integrated software model was designed as a proposed solution to the problems identified.
Title page
Certification page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of contents
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction 1
1.2 Statement of problem 2
1.3 Objective of the project 2
1.4 Scope of the study 3
1.5 Limitation of the study 3
1.6 Significant of the study 4
1.7 Definition of terms 5
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature review 7
2.1 Function of the academic planning unit 10
2.2 Role of computer in the institution 14
2.3 An overview for decision support system technology 15
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 System analysis and design 20
3.1 Organization structure / chart 20
3.2 Description and analysis of the existing system 21
3.3 Facts finding methods 23
3.4 Objective of the existing system 23
3.5 Input process and output analysis 24
3.6 Problems of the existing system 25
3.7 Justification for the new system 26
3.8 Design of the new system 27
3.9 Output Input design specification 29
3.10 Procedure and system flow chart 40
3.11 System requirement 41
3.12 Choice of language & loading the language 42
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 System Implementation 44
4.1 Programme coding and testing 44
4.2 Hardware and software installation 45
4.3 Staff training 45
4.4 Maintenance 46
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Conclusion, Summary and Recommendation 47
5.1 Summary 47
5.2 Recommendation 48
5.3 Conclusion 50
Bibliography 51
INTRODUCTION
Integration of documentation and knowledge based computerized service in information system is a tremendous means to help management in their daily practices and to improve its quality.
This unit is the vice chancellor and liaises with the vice chancellor in the day to day mining or their duties. With the national dividing financial budgetary allocation, nature academic planning is essential for proper channeling of our limited resources provisions for lecture rooms and office spaces seen to have been neglected for the previous years academic have been in chaos, student admission has been on the increase without regard to available infrastructure.
Available classroom spaces have insufficient desks, table and chairs. Partially due to over blown student population, examinations are difficult to conduct and examination script are not yet computerized only in first year and second years. Library facilities need to be coordinate, with all these, a good academic planning which would encompass short, median and long term planning is necessary in the institution. For this purpose, an academic planning unit is in evitable for proper articulation of academic activities. Therefore, it is hoped that the design and implementation of an integrated software suite for academic planning unit would provide a flexible and reliable management of the IMO STATE UNIVERSITY.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
It is observed that most of its records in academic planning unit are handled manually. The problems associated with the manual method include inefficiency, poor response times, poor planning and execution of major activities and low productivity.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
The objectives of the new system are as follows
– To use improve on the efficiency of the academic planning department
– To use a good database management system to respond to yawning situations
– To employ the service of IT-based systems to improve on the academic planning operation
– To provide a total computer based solution.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this is limited to the activities of the academic planning unit staff which computer can actually used for the design of academic planning unit, and it will go deep into designing a computer program that can aid academic planning unit.
1.5 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This research was done successfully but with some natural limitation confronting this study. These are some of the constraints encountered.
i. Time: We have a very little time to carry out this research due to the change of short academic calendar.
ii. Finance: Due to inadequate finance to carry out this research, the work was showed down, but despite the numerous things to write, in spite of this problem, they effort was granted towards accomplishing this project.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROJECT
The significance of this project cannot be over-emphasized, its implications and impact on the institution are too great and too vast to be exhaustively mentioned.
Nonetheless, below are some of the implications of this software project. This project will impact mightily by improving the quality of education, destroying all forms of malpractice within the system, and nurturing students into becoming morally stable by the provision of a conducive hearing environment for the students.
It will impact the Nigeria market place by producing competent students capable of standing up to the challenges of today’s technological era.
Finally, it will also impact the Nigerian economy through the patriotism, creativity and loyalty of the students that will be sent forth by the highly effective educational institutions created by the implementation of this project.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
ACADEMIC PLANNING
This is to provide direction and approval for matters related to the academic direction of the university. This includes facilitating the development of academic program encouraging innovation in their design.
INTERGRADED SOFTWARE
This is a group of computer programs that runs as a group to accomplish a set of objectives, which could be referred to a job.
DATA
This might include fact,, figure, letters, records, chat, symbols, images and several other. It is a collection of co-related fact, events of happenings that can be processed to get meaningful information.
INFORMATION
This is an interdisciplinary science, primary concerned with the collection, classification storage manipulation, material and dissemination of information.
SYSTEM
This word system is defined as an organized unit which composed of two or more inter-dependent and inter-related part that functions together.
Integrated Software Suit For Academic Planning Unit:
An integrated software suite for an Academic Planning Unit in an educational institution can greatly streamline processes and improve efficiency. Such a suite should encompass various aspects of academic planning, management, and administration. Here are some key components and features that can be included in an integrated software suite for an Academic Planning Unit:
- Student Information System (SIS): This core component manages student data, including admissions, enrollment, records, grades, and transcripts. It should also allow for easy access to student information by faculty and staff.
- Course Management System: This module enables academic planners to create, schedule, and manage courses. It should include tools for assigning instructors, defining prerequisites, setting class capacities, and managing course catalogs.
- Scheduling and Timetabling: Efficiently schedule classes and allocate resources (rooms, equipment, etc.) to ensure there are no conflicts. Automatic scheduling algorithms can optimize room usage and reduce scheduling conflicts.
- Admissions and Enrollment Management: Streamline the admissions process with features like online application submission, document management, and applicant tracking. Also, manage enrollment by setting admission criteria and managing waiting lists.
- Student Registration: Allow students to register for courses online, check seat availability, and receive confirmation of their course registrations.
- Academic Advising and Counseling: Provide tools for academic advisors to track student progress, schedule advising appointments, and communicate with students about their academic goals.
- Faculty and Staff Management: Manage faculty and staff information, including hiring, contracts, and assignments. Ensure that faculty can access the necessary information related to their courses and students.
- Grading and Transcript Generation: Streamline the grading process, calculate GPAs, and generate transcripts automatically. Make it easy for students to access their grades and transcripts.
- Reporting and Analytics: Provide comprehensive reporting capabilities, including dashboards and data analytics, to track academic performance, enrollment trends, and other key metrics.
- Communication Tools: Facilitate communication between academic planners, faculty, staff, and students through built-in messaging systems, email integration, and announcements.
- Financial Management: Integrate financial data related to tuition, fees, and budgets to help with financial planning and forecasting.
- Resource Management: Manage physical resources such as classrooms, laboratories, and equipment efficiently.
- Integration with Learning Management Systems (LMS): Integrate with popular LMS platforms to ensure seamless access to course materials, assignments, and assessments.
- Accessibility and Security: Ensure that the software is accessible to all users and includes robust security measures to protect sensitive academic data.
- Mobile Accessibility: Develop mobile apps or ensure that the software is mobile-responsive to allow students, faculty, and staff to access essential information on the go.
- Customization and Scalability: Provide options for customization to suit the specific needs of the institution, and ensure that the software can scale as the institution grows.
- User Training and Support: Offer training resources and provide responsive customer support to assist users with any issues or questions.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that the software complies with relevant regulations and standards, such as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).
Selecting or developing an integrated software suite that covers these aspects can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of academic planning and management within an educational institution. It should align with the institution’s specific requirements and goals to ensure a seamless experience for all stakeholders.